“Don’t you have something better to do than read those funny books?”
If you’ve ever loved comics, you’ve probably heard some version of that. I heard it plenty growing up. But I never saw anything funny about the superhero comics I was reading. They made my imagination soar. For a few precious moments, I could be Superman, flying above the city, faster than a speeding bullet, with the power to change the world and do some good in it.
More Than Just Pictures
Stan Lee gave us one of the most famous lines in comic history in the first Spider-Man story: “With great power comes great responsibility.” Morals in comics? Absolutely. Those stories helped shape my ideas about good and evil and what it means to stand up for what’s right. I’m not alone, either. Many comic book readers have grown into responsible adults who use their talents to make a difference in the world today. The pen truly is mightier than the sword, and comic writers can take real pride in their stories.
The artwork matters just as much. Great art makes a story a pleasure to read and drives its energy and emotion. In just a few panels, a comic can say more than pages of text. A picture really is worth a thousand words, and in comics, the art carries as much meaning as the story itself.
When Heroes Grieved With Us
Nothing showed the heart of comics more clearly than the weeks after September 11, 2001. The industry came together to express the grief and heartache the nation was feeling after the terrible loss of life in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. Publishers brought out their best artists for special releases that showed a hero world stricken with grief, mirroring what people everywhere were feeling. These characters may have been fictional, but the comfort they offered was real, and so was the anguish they reflected.
Part of Something Bigger
Comics have been around for generations, and they’ll always exist in one form or another. They are the voice of each generation, told through story and art, and they never stop changing. You can watch that change happen, or you can be part of it. Whether you’re a reader, an artist, or a storyteller, don’t let anyone tell you to put down the “funny book.” Pick up a pencil and express yourself.
Stay tuned, comic faithful, for MORE! 🙂
Walt
